Aldava’s 24 points power Purdy past Cassville
December 25, 2019
Lee Stubblefield
A good portion of Cassville’s Friday night crowd showed up just to see Scotty Henry, Purdy’s 7-0 center. But junior forward Osiel Aldava was the real show, bombing away over the Cassville zone for 24 points to lead the Eagles to a stunning 68-56 victory.
For Cassville, these non-conference games against smaller, neighboring schools have been a curse. Unless the expected blowout comes to pass, the bigger school gets roasted in the oven of second guessing. Losses are viewed a monumental upsets, even when the opponent is loaded with talent.
During Barrett Milleson’s first four seasons on the Cassville bench, the Wildcats held a 9-2 edge over the ESP schools: Exeter, Southwest, and Purdy. Southwest tripped Cassville in 2017 in a 65-60 game, and Purdy ran away with an 80-61 blowout the following season.
After stumbling to a 2-4 start, these Wildcats desperately need victories if they are going to post back-to-back winning seasons. After a 13-13 campaign in 2016-17, Cassville went 9-17, then posted a 14-12 mark last year.
7-0
But standing in the way of Cassville’s road to victory was Purdy’s 7-0 center, Scotty Henry. That height doesn’t look that impressive when you assemble a group of those genetically endowed players for a college or an NBA game. But put a seven footer on a high school court in the heartland and the difference is striking.
Cassville’s Carson Roller illustrated everyone’s reaction when he went to center court for the opening tip and looked up...and up...and up as Henry towered over him.
But if you were expecting a dunk fest, you were disappointed. That’s not how Purdy uses their big center. Henry’s strengths are rebounding and shot blocking. His size forces the opposing team to concentrate on his scoring threat in the lane, and that opens up opportunities for his teammates.
Foul trouble
Purdy opened the game with a 10-2 run that had Cassville reeling. After a much-needed timeout, the Wildcats clawed their way back into the fray. Late treys from Roller and Bowen Preddy cut the Purdy lead to 14-12 at the first break.
Despite holding the early lead, Purdy was in trouble. Henry, Aldava, and Andres Aldaba all picked up two fouls in that first quarter. With those three starters on the bench, Cassville took advantage and roared into the lead.
Carson Whittemire opened the second period with a three from the right corner to give the Wildcats a 15-14 lead. His two free throws at the 4:59 mark put Cassville on top, 21-16. But Purdy peppered the basket from the perimeter to go ahead, 26-25. Then Henry snared an offensive board and scored the last basket of the half to give Purdy a 28-25 lead.
Eagles fly away
DJ White was scoreless in the first half, but he poured in six quick points to tie the game at 33-33 with 5:15 on the third quarter clock. Purdy responded, with Aldava scoring 8 and Clay Henderson adding 7 in that quarter to push Purdy to a 45-39 lead. Then Roller’s trey with two seconds left cut the lead to 45-42 at the final break.
It looked like anybody’s game at that point.
It quickly turned into Purdy’s game.
The Eagles scored the first 9 points of the fourth to establish a double digit lead. Jake Brown buried a long jumper to give Purdy a 54-42 lead at the 5:22 mark. The Wildcats answered with a 6-0 flurry, but would never get closer than 7 points the rest of the way.
With Cassville overplaying on defense, Purdy’s Harley Stephens scored in the paint with an inbounds pass, and then the Eagles patiently ran clock, and hit free throws down the stretch to claim the 68-56 victory for Coach Ryan Stokes.
Purdy improved to 5-3 with the win and will take an extended break before travelling to Marionville on January 3. Cassville dipped to 2-5, and will next face host Southwest at the Southwest Holiday Tournament on December 27.
Purdy scorers: Osiel Aldava, 24; Clay Henderson, 17; Jake Brown, 10; Harley Stephens, 8; Zach Brewer, 6; Scotty Henry, 3.
Cassville scorers: Carson Roller, 16; DJ White, 15; Bowen Preddy, 13; Carson Whittemire, 5; Jacob Thomas, 4; Dane Martin, 3.
Lee Stubblefield
A good portion of Cassville’s Friday night crowd showed up just to see Scotty Henry, Purdy’s 7-0 center. But junior forward Osiel Aldava was the real show, bombing away over the Cassville zone for 24 points to lead the Eagles to a stunning 68-56 victory.
For Cassville, these non-conference games against smaller, neighboring schools have been a curse. Unless the expected blowout comes to pass, the bigger school gets roasted in the oven of second guessing. Losses are viewed a monumental upsets, even when the opponent is loaded with talent.
During Barrett Milleson’s first four seasons on the Cassville bench, the Wildcats held a 9-2 edge over the ESP schools: Exeter, Southwest, and Purdy. Southwest tripped Cassville in 2017 in a 65-60 game, and Purdy ran away with an 80-61 blowout the following season.
After stumbling to a 2-4 start, these Wildcats desperately need victories if they are going to post back-to-back winning seasons. After a 13-13 campaign in 2016-17, Cassville went 9-17, then posted a 14-12 mark last year.
7-0
But standing in the way of Cassville’s road to victory was Purdy’s 7-0 center, Scotty Henry. That height doesn’t look that impressive when you assemble a group of those genetically endowed players for a college or an NBA game. But put a seven footer on a high school court in the heartland and the difference is striking.
Cassville’s Carson Roller illustrated everyone’s reaction when he went to center court for the opening tip and looked up...and up...and up as Henry towered over him.
But if you were expecting a dunk fest, you were disappointed. That’s not how Purdy uses their big center. Henry’s strengths are rebounding and shot blocking. His size forces the opposing team to concentrate on his scoring threat in the lane, and that opens up opportunities for his teammates.
Foul trouble
Purdy opened the game with a 10-2 run that had Cassville reeling. After a much-needed timeout, the Wildcats clawed their way back into the fray. Late treys from Roller and Bowen Preddy cut the Purdy lead to 14-12 at the first break.
Despite holding the early lead, Purdy was in trouble. Henry, Aldava, and Andres Aldaba all picked up two fouls in that first quarter. With those three starters on the bench, Cassville took advantage and roared into the lead.
Carson Whittemire opened the second period with a three from the right corner to give the Wildcats a 15-14 lead. His two free throws at the 4:59 mark put Cassville on top, 21-16. But Purdy peppered the basket from the perimeter to go ahead, 26-25. Then Henry snared an offensive board and scored the last basket of the half to give Purdy a 28-25 lead.
Eagles fly away
DJ White was scoreless in the first half, but he poured in six quick points to tie the game at 33-33 with 5:15 on the third quarter clock. Purdy responded, with Aldava scoring 8 and Clay Henderson adding 7 in that quarter to push Purdy to a 45-39 lead. Then Roller’s trey with two seconds left cut the lead to 45-42 at the final break.
It looked like anybody’s game at that point.
It quickly turned into Purdy’s game.
The Eagles scored the first 9 points of the fourth to establish a double digit lead. Jake Brown buried a long jumper to give Purdy a 54-42 lead at the 5:22 mark. The Wildcats answered with a 6-0 flurry, but would never get closer than 7 points the rest of the way.
With Cassville overplaying on defense, Purdy’s Harley Stephens scored in the paint with an inbounds pass, and then the Eagles patiently ran clock, and hit free throws down the stretch to claim the 68-56 victory for Coach Ryan Stokes.
Purdy improved to 5-3 with the win and will take an extended break before travelling to Marionville on January 3. Cassville dipped to 2-5, and will next face host Southwest at the Southwest Holiday Tournament on December 27.
Purdy scorers: Osiel Aldava, 24; Clay Henderson, 17; Jake Brown, 10; Harley Stephens, 8; Zach Brewer, 6; Scotty Henry, 3.
Cassville scorers: Carson Roller, 16; DJ White, 15; Bowen Preddy, 13; Carson Whittemire, 5; Jacob Thomas, 4; Dane Martin, 3.
